During the late 1990's and into the early part of this decade, Field Mill was largely transformed into a modern stadium, with the building of three new stands. Both ends, the North Stand & Quarry Lane End plus the Ian Greaves Stand on one side of the pitch were re-developed. The ends are almost identical single tiered stands, each accommodating just under 2,000 supporters. The last addition to the ground was the West Stand, which was opened in February 2001. This is a cantilevered two tiered stand, with a capacity of 5,500. In 2010 this stand was renamed the Ian Greaves Stand, after a former manager of the club. On the other side of the ground is the rather small Bishop Street Stand, a covered seated stand that only runs half the length of the pitch. This now looks rather dowdy alongside its new shiny neighbours and due to safety concerns, it has been closed for some time. It has boards placed in front of it to prevent access to the stand, which gives the impression that it is a building site, which does little to enhance the overall feel of the ground. The team dugouts are located in front of this stand.

Adam Hodson adds; 'I did notice that there was a sizeable hole in the roof of the Ian Bishop Stand. Unfortunately, the ball didn't go down the hole during the game!' As a bit of 'tongue in cheek' the hole has been sponsored by the Supporters Association.

In April 2012, Field Mill was renamed the 'One Call Stadium' in a corporate sponsorship deal.

Away fans are housed in the North Stand, which is unpopular with a number of home fans, as the North End of the ground had been the traditional home end for many years. As you would expect from a relatively new stand the views of the playing action and facilities are pretty good. Around 1,800 supporters can be accommodated. I had a fairly uneventful trip to Mansfield and did not encounter any problems. It seemed to be a friendly place that was quite relaxed. Rob Ferguson adds' for those away fans arriving by coach, please note that buses should drop off at Portland Street and pick up at Portland Street at the end of the match.'

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There is a bar at the ground called the Sandy Pate (underneath the Ian Greaves Stand), which welcomes away fans and is free to enter. However, as you would expect it gets quite busy on matchdays. There is the Talbot pub on the Nottingham Road (A60) near to the Sainsburys Supermarket. However, this pub is for home fans only, but opposite is the 'Il Rosso' which does admit visiting supporters who are not showing colours as Jeff Beastall informs me; 'The 'Il Rosso' is an upmarket wine bar and a little on the pricey side, albeit with a good selection of beers and lagers and Big Screen TV. It is popular with visiting fans.' Nick Meadows a visiting Luton Town fan informs me; 'On being unable to gain admittance to the Talbot, I was directed to the Midland Hotel, on Station Road. This is near the Railway Station and only a ten minute walk away from the stadium. Although rather basic inside, the beer was reasonably priced and visiting fans were welcomed.'

Chris Patrick recommends; 'The Sir John Cockle pub is on the A38 going into Mansfield from the M1 and again serves good food'. Whilst Gordon Cleugh adds; 'About a quarter of a mile past the John Cockle on the A38 there is The Bold Forester which has about 10 real ales and also serves good value food' and is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Whilst Terry Gospel, advises that away fans should avoid the Victoria Hotel and Red Lion Pubs. Generally, it advised to also steer clear of pubs in the town centre. However, there is a Wetherspoons outlet called the Court House, situated in Market Place, which is also listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

From The North

Leave the M1 at Junction 29, take A617 to Mansfield. After six miles turn you will pass the Pheasant Inn on your left. At the next set of traffic lights, where there is a Tesco Store on one corner turn right into Rosemary Street (signposted Derby A38). Follow road for around one mile and after passing a Burger King and Retail Park on your right, turn right at the next traffic lights into Quarry Lane. The ground is up on the right hand side.

From The South

Leave the M1 at Junction 28, take A38 to Mansfield. After passing the Kings Mill Hospital on your left and then the Nell Gwyn pub on your right, turn right at the traffic lights after the pub into Sheepbridge Lane. After passing under a railway bridge (height restriction 10' 9") you will reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left into Quarry Lane. You will reach the stadium along on the left.

Car Parking

There is some parking at the ground which costs £5. A little further along Quarry Lane (going away from the town centre) is the Müller Depot (NG18 5DB) which offers parking at £3 per vehicle. Most of the proceeds from this car park go to charity. There is also the station car park which costs £4 for the day. This car park is located behind the adjacent Portland Retail Park (behind Burger King), which means it is handily placed for the away end. It is also signposted from the town centre ring road. Otherwise, it is a case of finding some street parking. Malcolm Dawson a visiting Sunderland supporter adds; 'I parked in the Portland Retail Park (Staples, Maplins, Pets at Home) located behind the North (away) Stand. I assumed that there would be unlimited free parking, but when I got back after the match I had a parking ticket for £70, as parking is limited to two hours and is monitored by cameras. Be warned!'

The One Call Stadium can be seen from Mansfield Railway Station which is no more than ten minutes walk away. The station is on a local line and is served with trains from Nottingham. To get to the ground from the station; Leave the station and turn left along the dual carriageway, (away from the town centre), you should see a retail park on the right. Go straight ahead at the first set of traffic lights, along Portland Street and then right at the next lights and into Quarry Lane. The ground is a short distance down this road on the right hand side.

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Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the One Call Stadium?

This was my first game of the season and am trying to tick off as many away games at new grounds (to me!) as possible.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

It was a very easy journey, straight up the A1(M) for me, as I live away from Wycombe. No traffic issues, even though it was a midweek fixture. Once hitting Mansfield itself, the ground is signposted and easy to locate. I rang the Club beforehand to enquire about parking at the ground who said its first come - first served basis, but to try the Dairy just a short walk on the same road. Tried club car park first and was asked if I had pre-booked..... thought you couldn't? Either way, the dairy just down the road provided adequate parking.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As it was midweek, we headed straight for the ground with not much time to spare! The home fans seemed fine to me, no trouble inside or outside of the stadium.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the One Call Stadium?

The One Call Stadium looks quite good from the outside, with good facilities right next to the ground. The away end was one of the better ones I have seen, as it is a fairly new stand. Good food on offer as well at decent prices. Three of the four sides are very good looking stands for a League Two outfit, with the remaining side closed to supporters.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Mansfield Town played to an 'in-your-face' standard, typical of a Steve Evans team. Every decision against them was heavily contested from the dugout. Physical, but a fair game that ended 0-0 in pouring rain.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

An easy five minute walk back to the car, and was back out of Mansfield within ten minutes.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall it was a good day with Wycombe picking up a point at a highly rated side. The ground has good facilities and good food.

Mansfield Town v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 11th March 2017, 3pm
David King (Plymouth Argyle fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the One Call Stadium?

I had not visited Mansfield Town for a few years and last time I went it was a terrible game that Plymouth lost!

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I stayed the night before in Nottingham and caught a Trent Barton bus service to Mansfield which took around 45 minutes. The bus station at Mansfield is conveniently situated near the town centre and no more than 15 minutes walk from the football ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I went to the Court House pub where I was made welcome. I met a friendly Mansfield fan who first went to a game in 1947 when he was five years old. The old boy had plenty of tales to tell. I had some food and drinks here before heading to the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the One Call Stadium?

The One Call Stadium is surrounded on several sides by houses but the floodlight pylons make it easy to find. It is near a retail park just outside the town centre. The away end gave good views of the stadium which was reasonably modern apart from one disused stand which had the press box apparently on top of it. There was a large Police presence at the ground although the atmosphere was relaxed and I saw no trouble.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The Plymouth fans made a good noise, the low roof over the stand helping acoustics. Mansfield were on a good run and were trying for the play offs so their fans were in good spirits. Mansfield were well on top in the first half and had a number of good chances to score but did not take them. Plymouth meanwhile could not get going and were struggling to get possession of the ball and create any threat going forward. The second half started as the first half finished but a tactical change by Argyle seemed to turn the tide in Argyle's favour. A well executed free kick by Graham Carey and a well placed header by Sonny Bradley gave Argyle an undeserved lead. Seven minutes later it was 0-2, another free kick taken by Graham Carey. Despite Mansfield throwing caution to the wind for the last 25 minutes Argyle held out for the win. The travelling fans, players and coaching staff were delighted with a hard earned win against a spirited Mansfield side.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

I walked back to the town centre after the final whistle and caught a bus back to Nottingham for an overnight stay,

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A great win for Plymouth although we were rather fortunate to come away with three points. I'd loved to have been in the dressing room to hear Derek Adams (Plymouth manager) and Steve Evans (Mansfield manager) "have words". His post match reaction just made the Argyle win the more sweeter!

Mansfield Town v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 24th September 2016, 12.15pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the One Call Stadium?

Another relatively local game for us, at a ground I have not visited for many years. Also another big away following, although our ticket allocation was a bit less than the capacity of the away end.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Simple journey of 67 miles via Gainsborough, Retford and Ollerton. Plenty of pay and display car parks near to the ground, with just a five minute walk from where I parked in Nottingham Road

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

With the early kick off, I had no time for food or pub, and there didn't seem to be any home fans about on my walk up to the ground.

What you thought o n seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the One Call Stadium?

The Field Mill ground has been substantially rebuilt since my last visit, with new all seater stands at either end, and on one side. The other side is still occupied by an old stand, which is no longer in use, and somewhat spoils the overall feel of the stadium.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

A bit of a dour game between two evenly matched sides, which was settled by an Omar Bogle penalty for Grimsby in the first half. Mansfield looked like a team which had failed to score in the previous three games, and for all their hard work, they failed to create many clear chances. As usual, we made it difficult for ourselves, by dropping deeper and deeper in the second half, but we held out, and it was pleasing to keep a clean sheet for the first time since the opening day of the season. Stewards were fine, toilets clean, and food looked okay, although I didn't have anything.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Bit of a jam getting away from the car park, as I had to go back round past the ground as I was heading for Manchester. If I had been heading home to Grimsby, there wouldn't have been a problem.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Not a particularly good game, but the result was what mattered. The support from the travelling Mariners' fans was superb as ever. The One Call Stadium is a ground that I would happily visit again.

Mansfield Town v Cambridge United
Football League Two
Saturday 7th May 2016, 3pm
Robert Marsters (Cambridge United fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the One Call Stadium?

This was the last game of the season, up until the week before Cambridge could have sneaked into the play offs but as it happened todays game was a dead rubber. I'd been to Mansfield last season but as it was a hot sunny day, so we opted to make the trip.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey took around 1hr45 from just outside Cambridge and was very easy to get to using a satnav. We parked on a residential street off the main road, opposite the retail parks. It was about five minute walk to the ground. As we'd been here before we knew where the ground was but it was well signed and easy to see from a distance.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As we were running a little late we went straight to the ground. Collecting tickets was easy and walking round the stadium, there was a good atmosphere from the home fans, possibly because it was the last home game of the season.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the One Call Stadium?

Field Mill looks quite impressive for a League Two ground. The Main Stand that runs down the pitch is a big two tier one, and the stands at either end of the pitch are also big all-seater ones. The only downside being the small stand that is boarded on the other side of the pitch. It looks odd seeing the dugouts positioned in front of boardings. The view from the away end is good, the stand is quite high up.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was quite a dull affair, both teams seemingly happy to play out a 0-0 draw as they had nothing to play for. Mansfield fans seemed quite quiet and they had given out those awful clappers. The food bar also managed to serve up the worst sausage roll I think I have ever eaten. The away fans spent more time in the second half bouncing a beach ball around the stand, which really summed up the game.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

After the game we stopped at one of the many fast food restaurants on the retail parks surrounding the ground, so after eating there we drove straight out of town without stopping.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The One Call Stadium is decent although there doesn't seem to be much around Mansfield to visit. It was a shame that the game itself was pretty poor.

Mansfield Town v Stevenage
Football League Two
Saturday 9th January 2016, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)

Why were you looking forward to visiting the One Call Stadium?

This was one game I wasn't looking forward to too much given our recent poor form. For me, this one had defeat written all over it, however it was a new ground for me so it had to be done.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I took the official supporters coach as usual which meant finding the ground and parking wasn't an issue. The coach parked right outside the away turnstile meaning finding it again after the game was easy.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We went straight to the club shop (which is now just a merchandise truck outside) for badges and programmes (£3 each). After that we decided to cross the road to go to the sports shop opposite to kill a bit of time before the ground opened. Please be aware that the staff on the door of the supporters bar ask for I.D for proof of age, so if you are young looking then please make sure to bring it along with you if you want to go for a drink at the ground first!

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the One Call Stadium?

The ground is mostly very nice to look at. The two stands behind the goals are big single-tier stands, whist the stand to the right from the away end is a double-tiered modern stand. The stand to the left of us is an old terrace that isn't used by fans, instead is covered by advertising and flags.

View From The Away End

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game itself was awful from our point of view as we just couldn't get going. A goal in each half from Mansfield gave them the win as a consolation goal with the last kick of the game gave us nothing to celebrate. I went for the standard Chicken Balti pie today (£3.20) and it was a lovely one. Some of my friends told me that the hot dogs and other pies on offer were also delicious. The atmosphere was non-existent today from both sets of fans. A few young supporters sitting neat the away end tried to get the Mansfield fans going but couldn't do anything.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was easy. We came out, turned left anf our coach was there waiting for us, and a quick journey home was very welcome for us!

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

This was a poor day out for us, but thankfully we didn't get hammered and it wasn't a too long journey home. We didn't stop off and so were arriving back at the Lamex just after 7.30pm.

It was to be my first league away trip with the Chairboys, other than the Play Off Final at Wembley last season. I don't get to as many games as I'd like, as with working most Saturdays, and starting early mornings during the week, then long mid-week trips also difficult. Plus home games at Adams Park are a 200 mile round trip for me.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Journey was fairly straightforward. As I live in North West Leicestershire, Mansfield is a relatively short trip into Nottinghamshire. Up the M1 and then the A38 into Mansfield,. Field Mill is well signposted and I parked on the Railway Station car park.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Sat listening to Chelsea v Liverpool on the radio in the car park, before taking the brief stroll to the ground, via the Burger King. The home fans I had contact with seemed friendly enough.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

Had a quick walk around before entering the turnstiles into the away end. The actual turnstile entrance looked a bit ropey, but functioned well enough. Away end seemed tidy enough, though the ground looks a bit odd, with the old stand on one side closed.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Game went very well for the Chairboys. Away fans very noisy, home fans very much less so, which seemed odd, though the early goal might have killed it for them. They did respond to their team having a right go in the second half, though. Couldn't hear the stadium announcements in the away end, nor could I see a match clock or scoreboard. I think there is a clock, but it's at the other end, and mounted at the side of the old stand, I think, so it's tough to see from the away end. Stewards around the ground seemed friendly and helpful enough. Can't comment on the pies or the toilets, as I didn't want or need either.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away seemed fine. Short queue to get out of the station car park, but it cleared quickly enough.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Very happy following my first away trip with the Chairboys, though the result helped that, no doubt. Was pleased to have gone and watched them at Mansfield, and credit to Mansfield, they played some nice stuff, as a lover of football of all sorts, that was a happy bonus too. Would certainly return.

Mansfield Town v Luton Town
League Two
Tuesday, February 17th 2015, 7.45pm
Nick Meadows (Luton Town fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I've been to Mansfield before but I always follow Luton when I can. Also a win could take us into the top three in the League.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

It was a fairly straightforward enough journey on paper, straight up the M1 from Luton then about 6 miles in a straight line once off the M1 at junction 27, However roadwork's on the M1 and then extremely bad traffic around Mansfield made the journey time almost three hours. I parked in the train station car park, there were lots of spaces, cost 70p per hour (pay & display) and you can see the stadium from there and takes around 5 minutes maximum to walk to the away end.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Next to the railway station car park is a Frankie & Benny's and a Burger King. I had a quick bite to eat in Burger King and then walked to the Talbot pub, onlly to be informed that tonight this was for home fans only. I was directed instead to a pub called the Midland which is located in-between the train and bus stations. It was not the most glamorous of pubs, but it was away fan friendly and I can't argue with £2.80 for a pint of Foster's (especially living in the south). After leaving the pub, it took around ten minutes to walk to the away turnstiles.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

I've been there before, there are 3 decent modern stands, but with the remaining side consisting of a boarded up stand that is not used, it looks strange. There was only a sparse home crowd in attendance.

Less said about the game the better. Both teams were awful and Mansfield nicked it with their only chance of the game, a counter attack from our attacking set piece. Home fans were quiet apart from when they scored. They have a drummer (which in my opinion is never a good thing) and to be honest he/she isn't that great! Luton had a third of the crowd and if you takeaway the Luton fans, Mansfield's crowd was lower than what we've taken to at least 2 away games so far this year. Bottles of Carlsberg at the ground were £3 and although I didn't eat the food seemed reasonably priced. Toilets? They're toilets! I did however notice a lack of bins, which meant that I saw a lot of litter, lying around.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Only a five minute walk to the car, and surprisingly there wasn't a huge amount of traffic around the stadium, so a quick getaway. I was home exactly two hours after starting my car.

Mansfield Town v Cheltenham Town
League Two
Saturday, December 13th 2014, 3pm
Richard Symonds (Cheltenham Town fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case maybe):

As a Cheltenham Town fan, I hadn’t been to Mansfield before and with me also trying to do 'the 92' it was another ground to be ticked off the list. I also used the opportunity to visit and stay with friends in Repton for the weekend so it all worked out well.

2. How easy was your journey/ finding the ground/car parking?

It was as easy journey up the M1 from Repton. I parked in a 'Pay and Display' car park in Grove Street just up from the ground. It cost £2.80 for 4 hours, the time required to eat, drink and see the match.

3. What did you do before the game pub/chippy....Home fans friendly?

Before the game we went to McDonalds on the retail park by the ground and then for a pint in the Talbot opposite the stadium. The home fans were friendly enough although getting served in the Talbot was difficult. It was busy, only had two staff on the bar and we obviously weren’t regulars. The locals seemed to be enjoying watching Derby County getting beaten on the huge 110 inch television screen showing Sky.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground is quite smart apart from the abandoned stand on one side. The Ian Greaves (Main) Stand is particularly impressive by League 2 standards and was pretty full. The away end has an excellent view of the whole pitch.

The game itself was pretty poor, two teams towards the bottom of the league playing without much confidence. However, both goals in the 1-1 draw were crackers and there is nothing like a late equaliser for your side to change your perspective on the previous 80 odd minutes. A draw was a fair result, the atmosphere wasn’t great but then as I said it was a pretty poor game. Stewards were almost conspicuous by their absence, no problems at all. Didn’t try any of the food or drink as the queues were pretty long.

6. Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away after the game was fine, walked back to the car park and got out of Mansfield and back to the M1 without any problems.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day:

Generally a good day but I suspect if we had been one up and then conceded a late equaliser it would have felt a bit different!

Mansfield Town v Morecambe
League Two
Tuesday, September 16th 2014, 7.45pm
Dominic Bickerton (Doing the 92)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Another ground that I had yet to visit, so I always look forward to ticking another one off the list. Also an excuse to meet up with an old mate and have a bit of laugh whilst watching some football.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

One of the easiest grounds to get to if you're going by train. You can see the stadium from the platforms - you can't go wrong.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

I arrived fairly close to kick off due to a delayed train, this meant we just decided to make our way straight into the ground and take our seats.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground itself is fairly bland with not much character. The three modern stands are neat but are let down by the large open corners that allow wind to come blowing in from all directions. The old Bishop Street Stand has been boarded up and is home to a small cabin on the roof for cameras. It certainly takes away from the feel of the ground as it's quite an eyesore. Despite this Field Mill is still one of the better grounds at this level.

It was an extremely poor advert for League Two football in every way. Neither side looked up to much and another season in League Two likely awaits both of them. A scrappy game that looked set to be a boring 0-0 until a last minute Liam Marsden long throw was headed in by Alex Fisher, giving the home side the three points. Funny how 89 minutes of dross can be transformed by a goal!

The match gave Mansfield and Morecambe fans very little to shout about, and as such the atmosphere was one of the worst I have experienced at a football league fixture. The home end had a drummer who was just awful and was generally ignored by the majority of Mansfield fans, whilst Morecambe only took 65 supporters. Hardly the most conducive conditions for a good atmosphere but still very disappointing from the home faithful.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

A short walk back to the train station and you're back on the train. Easy enough.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A disappointing visit. The lack of quality on the pitch and atmosphere in the stands meant I didn't really enjoy my trip to Field Mill, however I'm sure it would be far better experience when the team are on form and there's a larger away following to add to the atmosphere.

Mansfield Town v Oxford United
League Two
Saturday August 16th 2014, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

It was a fairly local game for me, as I am an exiled Oxford United fan living in Sheffield. As it was still early on in the season, I still had some of that new season initial optimism!

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I decided to drive to this fixture. It was a pretty straightforward route into Mansfield from the M1 and the ground is well sign-posted. I arrived in good time and was able to park in the club car park.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

I had ordered my ticket from Oxford United beforehand but frustratingly it had not turned up in the post. A phone call to the OUFC ticket office followed who then liaised with the Mansfield Town ticket office, resulting in me needing to collect my replacement ticket from them on the day of the game. The collection of new ticket was dealt pleasantly and efficiently. Bizarrely the original ticket sent by OUFC ticket office arrived 4-weeks later! There are various retail eateries near-by, so went with an Oxford mate for a spot of lunch ten minutes walk away.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then the other sides?

Over the last few years Mansfield have developed the ground on 3-sides and it is a compact modern stadium. However the fourth side is unused and this lets down the overall look of the stadium. Let’s hope the Club In time, find the finances to build a new stand to complete the stadium. Overall though, it is a decent League Two ground.

Mansfield had a feel of a family run club that was welcoming to away fans, even the stewards were helpful and friendly. I only had tea at half time which was the standard fayre. The atmosphere was poor inside the ground, but this was not helped by awful match played between two poor teams. Mansfield were fractionally better and won the game late on. My early season optimism soon evaporated!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Inevitably getting out of the club car park took time, but once on the way, it is quick to get out of Mansfield and on with your journey, back up the M1

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was a very poor game which muted the atmosphere. However, the ground and day out was pleasant and, based on this experience, I would say Mansfield Town welcome away fans with a positive attitude. I'd happily go again.

Mansfield Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, February 8th 2014, 3pm
Tom Raffan (Southend United fan)

I took the train to Mansfield, going from St. Pancras to Nottingham, and then getting the local line to Mansfield, from where I could see the stadium with a very simple walk.

Upon arrival I found it was an unusual complex in that there was a fence around the back of the stand, and the turnstile was in a gate on this, and so once you were through you were not actually in the stand. On the back wall were loos and catering facilities, while also a welcoming poster which had the Southend United logo and the message 'Thank you for travelling 169 miles to support your team' which was a nice touch.

Having asked whether we could sit anywhere, the steward said that officially he was not allowed to say yes, although he was fairly relaxed. I found a seat at the back of the stand near where our drummer was, and from this high central position the view was very good. With a drummer we were able to generate plenty of noise, far more than the home fans I hasten to add, who were very quiet throughout.

The layout of the ground with the three very isolated stands, the unnoticeable tunnel and the dugouts by the empty side did give a feeling of distance from the rest of the ground. Furthermore it was impossible to hear what was said on the tannoy which was quite annoying, as we had no idea when the injury time started, nor how much there was (I didn't notice the fourth official's board go up).

At half time I had a hot dog, which was one of the cheaper hot options at £2.50 and as football food goes, it was very nice.

As for the game itself, it was a horribly windy day (which was not helped by the absence of wind shields on the stand) which completely ruined the spectacle. About 7 or 8 footballs must have gone over the Bishop Street Stand it led to us losing 2-1.

This was not one of the better away day experiences I have had, and not just because of the result, though if you are looking for an away game easily accessible by train, this is the one you want.

Mansfield Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, February 8th 2014, 3pm
John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I visited this ground many years ago but my son could not recall. Southend had only lost one in the last 12 games and were unbeaten in 2014. Whilst Mansfield were 19th in the League having won only two home games since coming back into the Football League last season as Conference Champions. Southend had won 3 nil at home to Mansfield earlier in the season so the prospect of another 3 points made the trip a must.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

My son and I travel to games from North Wales as exiled fans so it was about 110 miles each way and just over 2½ hours along the M56, A6, A619 and A617. The ground was easy to find and we asked about parking at the ground, which we could for £5 but decided to park in a side road just round the corner to avoid delays in getting out of the car park. We turned into Quarry Lane and then parked in Highfield Way.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We ate our usual pre-packed picnic and listened to radio commentary on Liverpool v Arsenal. We didn’t meet any fans to talk to.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground came into sight on our right as we arrived next door to a retail park. The ground appears quite impressive with a large Main Stand. As we walked to the away entrance gate via a small gate from the club car park, we got a full view of the adjacent busy retail park. Entrance is via an electronic system scanning ticket barcodes. The Main Stand and stands behind each goal appear modern and all seated. The stand opposite the Main Stand is dilapidated and not used being covered in large wooden advertising boards. The 40 or so, advertising boards make the ground appear scruffy in my opinion. There is a small wooden hut on the top with a couple of hardy cameramen trying not to be blown away by the gale force winds. The manager dugouts are also on that side of the ground, isolated from any fans of either side. We were given the whole of the away stand and the leg room is comfortable. The views of the pitch are superb. The pitch was rain sodden but played well.

The game was played in freezing gale force gusting wind and rain and there was not much atmosphere until Mansfield took the lead with a great shot in the first half. Southend fans did their best to will the team on but a 2nd Mansfield goal in the second half subdued even the most die hard Southend fans. There is a food service area under the stand, offering the usual pies and drinks at reasonable cost. I can recommend the hot and tasty beef and onion pies at £2-50. The stewards were relaxed and friendly. Southend managed to get a consolation goal in the 90th minute but, too little too late. The Mansfield mascot is a stag (adult) and he was accompanied by a baby stag (youth) which was an unusual sight. The match program of 70 pages was £3 and a reasonable read.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

There was no delay in getting away from the ground and we relied on satnav to take us back to North Wales. The weather had worsened as the satnav guided us to the M1 we assumed wrongly that we would be taken directly north to the M62 and a straight forward journey. We instead, found ourselves taking the old Sheffield to Manchester elevated route via the A628 Snake Pass road, which is a tricky route, even in the middle of summer. Luckily, being dark we could not see the drops neither side of this high, twisting road, only the twinkling lights of villages and towns way below us! The route was interesting to say the least in driving rain and gales force winds, and one I would not recommend in any circumstances.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

This was a good day out with an interesting journey, but the weather and result spoiled the day. Mansfield is a good ground to visit and the Main Stand is modern and impressive.

Mansfield Town v Scunthorpe United
League Two
Saturday, January 11th 2014, 3pm
Joe (Scunthorpe United fan)

BTravelling down to the One Call Stadium was straight-forward as I had gone on one of the official club coaches. We got to the ground nice and early. It’s fair to say there are plenty of facilities close to the stadium, as a retail park was located directly next to it.

On arrival, we went through the turnstiles, which are managed by ticket machines, where each person scans the barcode on their ticket, which unlocks the turnstile and allows them to pass through. For some reason, my ticket wouldn't be accepted and the turnstile would not unlock. A friendly steward noticed this and let me though one of the gates instead.

After finding my seat, two things occurred to me. Firstly, it was still a long time until kick-off, and secondly, it was really cold, being early January! A quick trip to the food kiosk was in order, which is located under the stand. A good selection was available at what I thought was really good prices. A cup of coffee was £1.50 for example. I also noticed they sold Pot Noodles at £1.50 too, which actually is a really good idea!

After reading a previous review about the stewards I was a little wary, but must say that all of the staff were very friendly, helpful and polite. One addressed me as ‘Sir’ and asked if I needed any help finding my seat.

Another thing that surprised me was how good the view was from the away stand. Their largest stand looks really nice, and the away end had decent seats. I tracked down the local radio station on 103.2FM and listened to their commentary. The commentator made a point that Mansfield had been in the Conference for a few seasons, and said how good it was for them to see the away end full. Scunthorpe sold out the away end with 1,220 tickets sold.

The Town fans and Scunthorpe fans both made a lot of noise from the start of the match, which made for a great derby-like atmosphere. I was greatly for the good views from the away stand when Hayes scored an amazing goal on 9 minutes right in front of us! Understandably this quietened the home crowd a little but they encouraged their team to pull something back.

Half time saw a really big queue at the kiosk, but the staff on it were still friendly and coped well.

Scunthorpe won 2-0, and it’s fair to say that the decent ground and friendly atmosphere made for a good day out. Best of luck to Mansfield Town in the future!

Believe it or not there is a dearth of decent aways in the Premier League nowadays, regular visits to clone-grounds such as the Britannia just don't cut it anymore. And so there a whole bunch of supporters who pine for an away draw in the Cup, and the lower league the opposition the better. And given that this was only our third ever game against Mansfield, and my first, then this was undoubtedly a "must see" fixture.

The journey to Mansfield from Merseyside was pretty straightforward, we avoided the "short" route through the Peak District and just went M62, M1, completing the journey comfortably in under two hours.

Being seasoned drinkers we always like to stay overnight and sample the hospitality that the various towns and cities have to offer. We booked rooms at the Mansfield Travelodge the night the draw was made, we paid £27 per room which we thought was reasonable, but if we'd waited until the week of the fixture we could have had the rooms for £19 each! The Travelodge is a mile or two out of town but a local Private Hire taxi into town would only cost about a fiver, during the day time. A Hackney Black Cab back to the hotel at 2am cost about £9.

The Saturday night in Mansfield town centre was great, some cracking little pubs notably The Oak, The Market Inn, The Swan and the Bowl In Hand was a nice little starting place, especially with it's pool table. If you're younger and are after something a bit more lively than you too won't be disappointed as there are plenty of those types of places. As for match day drinking AVOID the Byron unless you like pubs that are rammed full. Just walk the extra 100 yards to the Swan. Getting to the ground is a 10 minute walk from here, or a 15 minute stroll if you prefer.

On match day I was initially tempted to park on the retail park adjacent to the away end, but if you wanted a reasonably swift get away this would be every inch the bottleneck that it looks. I instead opted to park on a Pay and Display just around the corner, off Peacock St/Garden Rd. 70p per hour and we were out of town in less than 5 minutes.

It's a tidy little ground, with decent leg room for the more "leggy" amongst us. The catering was OKish, I asked for a Balti Pie but after one bite I discovered it was a meat and potato'. I took it back and the fella was really professional, he apologized told me he'd run out of Balti, gave me my money back and said I could keep the meat and potato'. So, not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I ate it. Entry to the ground was easy and the stewarding was very relaxed.

The atmosphere in the ground was a little strange due to there only being stands on three sides, and you couldn't hear the fans behind the far goal at all, so most of the noise was generated by the larger Ian Greaves Stand. As a result most of the chanting was between the away end and the Greaves stand, and it got quite lively at times!

The game itself will be remembered mainly for the Luis Suarez "hand ball" goal, but if anybody cared to view the facts of the matter they would know that the Ref saw the hand ball and deemed it to be accidental. The other goal (the first) was scored by debutant Daniel Sturridge, in a not very pretty game played on a shocker of a pitch. A late Mansfield goal ensured that the ball would be pumped into the Liverpool box at every opportunity. There were a few nerve jangling moments but I never really thought Mansfield would get a second, and so it proved.

Mansfield Town v Exeter City
League Two
Saturday, August 10th 2014, 3pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)

1. Why were you looking forward to going to this ground?

This is a new ground for me and it was the season opener.

2. How easy was your journey?

The journey was straight forward, travelling up on the supporters coach leaving Exeter at 8am, arriving at 1pm.

3. What did you do before the game?

On arrival at the ground some supporters opted for the clubhouse, we took a 10minute walk to the Railway Inn, in station road. This pub was away supporter friendly with a good mix of home and away fans. Pints were priced from £2.50, food on the menu was all listed at set prices starting from £2.50. On returning to the ground I picked up the match day programme for £3.

4. First impressions on seeing the ground?

Away fans are housed in the North stand at one end of the ground, opposite is the quarry lane stand which almost mirrors the north stand, then there is the Ian Greaves (west) two tiered stand, all three offer good views. The east, Bishop Street stand is currently closed for redevelopment.

5. Comment on the game, atmosphere, refreshments, stewards and toilets?

The game was played in good spirit with both teams wanting to start the season well, the match ending in a 0-0 draw. Atmosphere between the two sets of supporters was good, the Exeter fans paying tribute to the former number 9 Adam Stansfield in the ninth minute and home fans recognising this and joining in. Refreshments all seemed to be reasonably priced with drinks starting at £1.50, hot food from £2.50. Toilets are under the stand and were clean and the stewards were helpful and low key.

6. Comments on getting away after the game?

Very easy walk back to where the coach dropped us off and a straight forward journey home.

7. Summary of the day out:

A very good day out and the way we played we still went home in good spirits.

As a follower of a club that has played non-league football for forty years now it has been a treat to visit the grounds of clubs that have been relegated to the Conference recently as they are far superior to the type of ground I am used to. Field Mill is, in my opinion, the best ground in the Conference with its three modern all seater stands and relatively lavish facilities that put others to shame. As a Barrow fan I appreciate a bit of comfort as we don’t get much at Holker Street!

I travelled to Mansfield by train as I always do. The station is just across the road from the ground which makes access easy. I’m not sure how easy it would be to park a car so I would always recommend doing the last leg by train to prevent any parking bother. The station is on the ‘Robin Hood Line’ and served by trains from Nottingham which is where I changed as I travelled up from the South.

As I have a long journey to Mansfield, travelling up from Kent, I have never arrived with enough time before hand to do much else than go straight to the ground. There is a retail park next door to Field Mill but the only food and drink I saw on offer was a Macdonalds which isn’t really my thing. I did have a wander around hoping to find a coffee shop to get a thirst quenching latte but I wasn’t successful.

Although the ground has obviously been rebuilt in the recent past it does look a bit run down on the outside which is perhaps a reflection of the hard times the club has suffered in recent years which has ultimately led to the loss of their Football League place. Away fans are accommodated in single tiered stand behind one goal which gives excellent views. One side of the ground is unused with the old stand still in place but it has been decorated in such a way that it doesn’t really detract from the overall look of the place. The stewards at Mansfield have something of a reputation for being a bit strict but I had no problems with them and they showed me where I could put my flag in a sectioned off area of seats.

The travelling Barrow fans were very quiet at this game as the usual group of singers had chosen not to travel, maybe they had a premonition of what was to follow! The home fans became more vocal as the game wore on as they celebrated goal after goal against a Barrow side that were totally outclassed. After each Mansfield goal the club played music which was so loud it was distorting badly. I understand why they do it but I wish that they didn’t subject the poor away fans to it. It became tedious after their third goal but when you are subjected to it seven times you wish the speaker system would blow up.

We were 4-0 down at half-time so I chose to seek comfort at the tea bar. A Chicken & Mushroom pie was purchased at a fairly reasonable £2.50 and a Mars bar for 80p. The pie was fine, nothing special, but kept me going through what was to be a long second-half.

The 7-0 defeat kind of destroyed the away day experience. It was our biggest loss for 36 years so at least I can say ‘I was there’ in the future but it was quite depressing to see your team beaten like that. Getting back to the station was simple and was in plenty of time for my 17.14 train to Nottingham before getting a connection back to London and onwards to Kent arriving back at 9.30pm.

Why not write your own review of the One Call Stadium Mansfield Town and have it included in the Guide? Find out more about submitting a Fans Football Ground Review.

* Due to the Bishop Street side being closed for safety reasons, the operating capacity is 9,295.

** Mansfield Town took over the Field Mill ground in 1919. The ground had previously been used for football since 1861 by various teams and is the second oldest football ground in continual use after Sandygate in Sheffield, the home of Hallam FC, which is older by a few months.